![Parliamentary republic](https://www.english.nina.az/wikipedia/image/aHR0cHM6Ly91cGxvYWQud2lraW1lZGlhLm9yZy93aWtpcGVkaWEvY29tbW9ucy90aHVtYi8wLzA0L0Zvcm1zX29mX2dvdmVybm1lbnQuc3ZnLzE2MDBweC1Gb3Jtc19vZl9nb3Zlcm5tZW50LnN2Zy5wbmc=.png )
A parliamentary republic is a republic that operates under a parliamentary system of government where the executive branch (the government) derives its legitimacy from and is accountable to the legislature (the parliament). There are a number of variations of parliamentary republics. Most have a clear differentiation between the head of government and the head of state, with the head of government holding real power and the head of state being a ceremonial position, similar to constitutional monarchies. In some countries the head of state has reserve powers to use at their discretion as a non-partisan "referee" of the political process. Some have combined the roles of head of state and head of government, much like presidential systems, but with a dependency upon parliamentary confidence. In general, parliamentary republics grant the highest sovereign powers to the parliament.
![image](https://www.english.nina.az/wikipedia/image/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZW5nbGlzaC5uaW5hLmF6L3dpa2lwZWRpYS9pbWFnZS9hSFIwY0hNNkx5OTFjR3h2WVdRdWQybHJhVzFsWkdsaExtOXlaeTkzYVd0cGNHVmthV0V2WTI5dGJXOXVjeTkwYUhWdFlpOHdMekEwTDBadmNtMXpYMjltWDJkdmRtVnlibTFsYm5RdWMzWm5Mek0zTUhCNExVWnZjbTF6WDI5bVgyZHZkbVZ5Ym0xbGJuUXVjM1puTG5CdVp3PT0ucG5n.png)
Parliamentary systems: Head of government is elected or nominated by and accountable to the legislature
Presidential system: Head of government (president) is popularly elected and independent of the legislature
Hybrid systems:
Other systems:
Note: this chart represents the de jure systems of government, not the de facto degree of democracy.
Powers
This section needs additional citations for verification.(February 2019) |
In contrast to republics operating under either the presidential system or the semi-presidential system, the head of state usually does not have executive powers as an executive president would (some may have reserve powers or a bit more influence beyond that), because many of those powers have been granted to a head of government (usually called a prime minister).[clarification needed]
However, in a parliamentary republic with a head of state whose tenure is dependent on parliament, the head of government and head of state can form one office (as in Botswana, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, and South Africa), but the president is still selected in much the same way as the prime minister is in most Westminster systems. This usually means that they are the leader of the largest party or coalition of parties in parliament.
In some cases, the president can legally have executive powers granted to them to undertake the day-to-day running of government (as in Iceland) but by convention they either do not use these powers or they use them only to give effect to the advice of the parliament or head of government. Some parliamentary republics could therefore be seen as following the semi-presidential system but operating under a parliamentary system.
Historical development
Typically, parliamentary republics are states that were previously constitutional monarchies with a parliamentary system.
Following the defeat of Napoleon III in the Franco-Prussian War, France once again became a republic – the French Third Republic – in 1870. The President of the Third Republic had significantly less executive powers than those of the previous two republics had. The Third Republic lasted until the invasion of France by Nazi Germany in 1940. Following the end of the war, the French Fourth Republic was constituted along similar lines in 1946. The Fourth Republic saw an era of great economic growth in France and the rebuilding of the nation's social institutions and industry after the war, and played an important part in the development of the process of European integration, which changed the continent permanently. Some attempts were made to strengthen the executive branch of government to prevent the unstable situation that had existed before the war, but the instability remained and the Fourth Republic saw frequent changes in government – there were 20 governments in ten years. Additionally, the government proved unable to make effective decisions regarding decolonization. As a result, the Fourth Republic collapsed and Charles de Gaulle was given power to rule by decree, subsequently legitimized by approval of a new constitution in a referendum on 28 September 1958 that led to the establishment of the French Fifth Republic in 1959.
Chile became the first parliamentary republic in South America following a civil war in 1891. However, following a coup in 1925 this system was replaced by a presidential one.[original research?]
Commonwealth of Nations
Since the London Declaration of 29 April 1949 (just weeks after Ireland declared itself a republic, and excluded itself from the Commonwealth) republics have been admitted as members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
In the case of many republics in the Commonwealth of Nations, it was common for the Sovereign, formerly represented by a Governor-General, to be replaced by a non-executive head of state. This was the case in South Africa (which ceased to be a member of the Commonwealth immediately upon becoming a republic, and later switched to having an executive presidency), Malta, Trinidad and Tobago, India, Vanuatu and since 30 November 2021, Barbados. In many of these examples, the last Governor-General became the first president. Such was the case with Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Other states became parliamentary republics upon gaining independence.
List of modern parliamentary republics and related systems
Full parliamentary republics | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Country/territory | Head of state | Head of state elected by | Cameral structure | Parliamentary republic adopted | Previous government form | Notes | |
![]() | Bajram Begaj | Parliament, by three-fifths majority | Unicameral | 1991 | One-party state | ||
![]() | Vahagn Khachaturyan | Parliament, by absolute majority | Unicameral | 2018 | Semi-presidential republic | ||
![]() | Alexander Van der Bellen | Direct election, by two-round system | Bicameral | 1945 | One-party state (as part of Nazi Germany, see Anschluss) | ||
![]() | Mohammed Shahabuddin | Parliament | Unicameral | 1991 | Presidential republic | ||
![]() | Sandra Mason | Parliament, by two-thirds majority if there is no joint nomination | Bicameral | 2021 | Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) | ||
![]() | Denis Bećirović Željka Cvijanović Željko Komšić | Direct election of collective head of state, by first-past-the-post vote | Bicameral | 1991 | One-party state (part of Yugoslavia) | ||
![]() | Rumen Radev | Direct election, by two-round system | Unicameral | 1991 | One-party state | ||
![]() | Lai Ching-te | Direct election, by first-past-the-post Nominally by the National Assembly | Unicameral Nominally Tricameral | 1946 Only nominally a parliamentary republic since 1996 | One-party military dictatorship (Mainland China) Constitutional monarchy (Taiwan as part of the Japanese Empire) | Nominally; the Constitution has been partially superseded by additional articles that provide for a semi-presidential republic with direct presidential elections and a unicameral legislature. These additional articles have a sunset clause that will terminate them in the event of a hypothetical resumption of ROC rule in mainland China. | |
![]() | Zoran Milanović | Direct election, by two-round system | Unicameral | 2000 | Semi-presidential republic | ||
![]() | Petr Pavel | Direct election, by two-round system (since 2013; previously parliament, by majority) | Bicameral | 1993 | Parliamentary republic (part of Czechoslovakia) | ||
![]() | Sylvanie Burton | Parliament, by majority | Unicameral | 1978 | Associated state of the United Kingdom | ||
![]() | Alar Karis | Parliament, by two-thirds majority | Unicameral | 1991 | Presidential republic, thereafter occupied by a one-party state | ||
![]() | Taye Atske Selassie | Parliament, by two-thirds majority | Bicameral | 1991 | One-party state | ||
![]() | Naiqama Lalabalavu | Parliament, by majority | Unicameral | 2014 | Military dictatorship | ||
![]() | Alexander Stubb | Direct election, by two-round system | Unicameral | 2000 | Semi-presidential republic | ||
![]() | Mikheil Kavelashvili (disputed) | Parliament and regional delegates, by absolute majority (since 2024; previously direct election, by two-round system) | Unicameral | 2018 | Semi-presidential republic | ||
![]() | Frank-Walter Steinmeier | Federal Convention (Bundestag and state delegates), by absolute majority | Two unicameral institutions | 1949 | One-party state | ||
![]() | Katerina Sakellaropoulou | Parliament, by majority | Unicameral | 1975 | Military dictatorship; constitutional monarchy | ||
![]() | Tamás Sulyok | Parliament, by majority | Unicameral | 1990 | One-party state (Hungarian People's Republic) | ||
![]() | Halla Tómasdóttir | Direct election, by first-past-the-post vote | Unicameral | 1944 | Constitutional monarchy (in a personal union with Denmark) | ||
![]() | Droupadi Murmu | Parliament and state legislature, by instant-runoff vote | Bicameral | 1950 | Constitutional monarchy (British Dominion) | ||
![]() | Abdul Latif Rashid | Parliament, by two-thirds majority | Unicameral | 2005 | One-party state | ||
![]() | Michael D. Higgins | Direct election, by instant-runoff vote | Bicameral | 1949 | To 1936: Constitutional monarchy (British Dominion) 1936–1949: ambiguous | ||
![]() | Isaac Herzog | Parliament, by majority | Unicameral | 2001 | Semi-parliamentary republic | ||
![]() | Sergio Mattarella | Parliament and region delegates, by two-thirds majority; by absolute majority, starting from the fourth ballot, if no candidate achieves the aforementioned majority in the first three ballots | Bicameral | 1946 | Constitutional monarchy | Prime Minister is dependent on the confidence of both of the houses of Parliament. | |
![]() | Vjosa Osmani | Parliament, by two-thirds majority; by a simple majority, at the third ballot, if no candidate achieves the aforementioned majority in the first two ballots | Unicameral | 2008 | UN-administered Kosovo (formally part of Serbia) | ||
![]() | Edgars Rinkēvičs | Parliament | Unicameral | 1991 | Presidential republic, thereafter occupied by a one-party state | ||
![]() | Joseph Aoun | Parliament | Unicameral | 1941 | Protectorate (French mandate of Lebanon) | ||
![]() | George Vella | Parliament, by two-thirds majority | Unicameral | 1974 | Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) | ||
![]() | Dharam Gokhool | Parliament, by majority | Unicameral | 1992 | Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) | ||
![]() | Maia Sandu | Direct election, by two-round system (since 2016; previously by parliament, by three-fifths majority) | Unicameral | 2001 | Semi-presidential republic | ||
![]() | Jakov Milatović | Direct election, by two-round system | Unicameral | 1992 | One-party state (Part of Yugoslavia, and after Serbia and Montenegro) | ||
![]() | Ram Chandra Poudel | Parliament and state legislators | Bicameral | 2008 | Constitutional monarchy | ||
![]() | Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova | Direct election, by two-round system | Unicameral | 1991 | One-party state (part of Yugoslavia) | ||
![]() | Asif Ali Zardari | Parliament and state legislators, by instant-runoff vote | Bicameral | 2010 | Assembly-independent republic | ||
![]() | Andrzej Duda | Direct election | Bicameral | 1989 | One-party state | ||
![]() | Tuimalealiifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II | Parliament | Unicameral | 1960 | Trust Territory of New Zealand | ||
![]() | Aleksandar Vučić | Direct election, by two-round system | Unicameral | 1991 | One-party state (part of Yugoslavia, and later Serbia and Montenegro) | ||
![]() | Tharman Shanmugaratnam | Direct election (since 1993) | Unicameral | 1965 | State of Malaysia | ||
![]() | Peter Pellegrini | Direct election, by two-round system (since 1999; previously by parliament) | Unicameral | 1993 | Parliamentary Republic (part of Czechoslovakia) | ||
![]() | Nataša Pirc Musar | Direct election, by two-round system | Bicameral | 1991 | One-party state (part of Yugoslavia) | ||
![]() | Hassan Sheikh Mohamud | Parliament | Bicameral | 2012 | One-party state | ||
![]() | Christine Kangaloo | Parliament | Bicameral | 1976 | Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) | ||
![]() | Faure Gnassingbé | Parliament | Unicameral | 2024 | Presidential republic | ||
![]() | Nikenike Vurobaravu | Parliament and regional council presidents, by majority | Unicameral | 1980 | British–French condominium (New Hebrides) | ||
Parliamentary republics with an executive presidency | |||||||
Country | Head of state | Head of state elected by | Cameral structure | Parliamentary republic with an executive presidency adopted | Previous government form | Notes | |
![]() | Duma Boko | Parliament, by majority | Unicameral | 1966 | British protectorate (Bechuanaland Protectorate) | ||
![]() | Taneti Maamau | Direct election, by first-past-the-post vote | Unicameral | 1979 | Protectorate | Following a general election, by which citizens elect the members of the House of Assembly, members select from their midst "not less than 3 nor more than 4 candidates" for the presidency. No other person may stand as candidate. The citizens of Kiribati then elect the president from among the proposed candidates with first-past-the-post voting. | |
![]() | Irfaan Ali | Semi-direct election, by first-past-the-post vote (vacancies are filled by Parliament, by majority) | Unicameral | 1980 | Full parliamentary republic | ||
![]() | Hilda Heine | Parliament | Bicameral | 1979 | UN Trust Territory (part of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) | ||
![]() | David Adeang | Parliament | Unicameral | 1968 | UN Trusteeship between Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. | ||
![]() | Cyril Ramaphosa | Parliament, by majority | Bicameral | 1961 | Constitutional monarchy (Commonwealth realm) | Was a full parliamentary republic from 1961–1984; adopted an executive presidency in 1984. | |
![]() | Chan Santokhi | Parliament (vacancies are filled by Parliament, by majority) | Unicameral | 1987 | Full parliamentary republic | Was a full parliamentary republic from 1975–1980; adopted an executive presidency in 1987 after the military coup period from 1980–1987, when the president was given executive powers and the prime minister title became vice-president. | |
Assembly-independent systems | |||||||
Country | Head of state | Head of state elected by | Cameral structure | Assembly-independent republic adopted | Previous government form | Notes | |
![]() | Wesley Simina | Parliament, by majority | Unicameral | 1986 | UN Trust Territory (Part of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) | The president is assisted by the vice-president, both of whom are elected by the FSM Congress from among the at-large members to serve for four-year terms. | |
![]() | Francesca Civerchia Dalibor Riccardi | Parliament | Unicameral | 1291 | Theocracy (part of the Papal States) | Two collective heads of state and heads of government, the Captains Regent | |
Directorial systems | |||||||
Country | Head of state | Head of state elected by | Cameral structure | Parliamentary republic adopted | Previous government form | Notes | |
![]() | Guy Parmelin Ignazio Cassis Albert Rösti Élisabeth Baume-Schneider Beat Jans Karin Keller-Sutter Viola Amherd | Parliament by exhaustive ballot at a joint sitting of both houses | Bicameral | 1848 | Confederation of states | Also has citizen-initiated referendums |
List of former parliamentary republics and related systems
Country | Became a parliamentary republic | Status changed | Changed to | Reason for change | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full parliamentary republics | |||||
![]() | 1921 | 1931 | One-party parliamentary republic | Creation of the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One-party system under the Communist Party of Abkhazia |
![]() | 1931 | 1991 | Full parliamentary republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman until 1990 One-party system under the Communist Party of Abkhazia |
![]() | 1991 | 1994 | Semi-presidential republic | New constitution adopted | |
![]() | 1918 | 1920 | One-party parliamentary republic | Creation of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic | |
![]() | 1920 | 1991 | Multi-party semi-presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman until 1990 One-party system under the Communist Party of Armenia |
![]() | 1920 | 1929 | Semi-presidential system | Constitutional amendment | |
![]() | 1918 | 1920 | One-party parliamentary republic | Creation of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic | |
![]() | 1920 | 1990 | Presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One-party system under the Communist Party of Azerbaijan |
![]() | 1918 | 1920 | One-party parliamentary republic | Creation of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic | |
![]() | 1920 | 1990 | Full parliamentary republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One-party system under the Communist Party of Byelorussia |
![]() | 1990 | 1994 | Presidential republic | New constitution adopted | |
![]() | 1961 | 1963 | Presidential system | Referendum | |
![]() | 1948 | 1962 | Military dictatorship | 1962 Burmese coup d'état | |
![]() | 1891 | 1924 | Military junta | 1924 Chilean coup d'état | |
1925 | 1925 | Presidential system | New constitution | ||
![]() | 1947 | 1972 (de facto) | Presidential system | Constitution suspended | The provisions establishing a parliamentary republic remain in the Constitution which is generally in effect, but are suspended by the Additional Articles, which have a sunset clause that will terminate them in the event of a hypothetical resumption of ROC rule in mainland China. |
1991 (de jure; nominally remains parliamentary) | Semi-presidential system | Additional articles of the Constitution adopted | |||
![]() | 1920 | 1939 | One-party state | Munich agreement | |
![]() | 1945 | 1948 | One-party parliamentary republic | Coup d'état | |
![]() | 1948 | 1989 | Multi-party parliamentary republic | Velvet Revolution | One-party system under the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia |
![]() | 1989 | 1992 | State dissolved | Velvet Divorce | |
![]() | 1946 | 1950 | State dissolved | Merged to the Republic of Indonesia | |
![]() | 1920 | 1934 | One-party parliamentary republic | 1934 Estonian coup d'état | In June 1940, Estonia was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union. |
1934 | 1938 | One-party presidential republic | New constitution adopted | ||
![]() | 1870 | 1940 | Puppet state | World War II German occupation | |
![]() | 1946 | 1958 | Semi-presidential system | New constitution adopted | |
![]() | 1918 | 1921 | One-party parliamentary republic | Creation of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia | |
![]() | 1921 | 1991 | Multi-party semi-presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman until 1990 One-party system under the Communist Party of Georgia |
![]() | 1970 | 1980 | Assembly-independent republic | New constitution adopted | |
![]() | 1946 | 1949 | One-party state | Creation of the People's Republic of Hungary | |
![]() | 1945 | 1959 | Presidential system | Presidential constitution reinstated | |
![]() | 1948 | 1996 | Semi-parliamentary system | Constitutional amendment | |
![]() | 2008 | 2013 | Presidential system | New constitution and elections | A separate Prime Minister existed between 2008 and 2013 The switch to a fully presidential system was legislated in 2010, but only took effect in 2013. |
![]() | 1960 | 1961 | Military junta | 16 May coup | |
![]() | 1936 | 1990 | Presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One-party system under the Communist Party of Kazakhstan |
![]() | 1936 | 1990 | Presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One-party system under the Communist Party of Kirghizia |
![]() | 2010 | 2021 | Presidential republic | Referendum | The 2010 Constitution of Kyrgyzstan introduced a parliamentary system to the country while remaining a de facto semi-presidential republic, with the President retaining many forms of executive powers such as appointing a Prime Minister as the head of government. The decision was subjected to a parliamentary vote of confidence. |
![]() | 1922 | 1934 | One-party parliamentary republic | 1934 Latvian coup d'état | In June 1940, Latvia was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union. |
1934 | 1940 | State dissolved | World War II Soviet occupation | ||
![]() | 1920 | 1926 | One-party state | 1926 Lithuanian coup d'état | In June 1940, Lithuania was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union. |
![]() | 1990 | 1992 | Multi-party semi-presidential republic | New constitution adopted | In February 1993, Lithuania holds its first presidential election since the state re-established. |
![]() | 1940 | 1990 | Multi-party semi-presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One-party system under the Communist Party of Moldavia |
![]() | 1963 | 1966 | Military dictatorship (which led in 1979 to the democratic, presidential Second Nigerian Republic) | Coup d'état | |
![]() | 1956 | 1958 | Military dictatorship | 1958 Pakistani coup d'état | |
1973 | 1978 | 1977 Pakistani coup d'état | |||
1997 | 1999 | 1999 Pakistani coup d'état | |||
2002 | 2003 | Assembly-independent republic | Constitutional amendment | ||
![]() | 1919 | 1935 | Presidential system | New constitution adopted | |
![]() | 1911 | 1926 | Military dictatorship (which led in 1933 to the Estado Novo one-party presidential republic) | 28 May coup | |
![]() | 1899 | 1901 | Military dictatorship (De facto United States Colony) | Capture of Emilio Aguinaldo to the American forces | |
![]() | 1973 | 1981 | Semi-presidential system (de facto Military dictatorship under Martial Law between 1972 and 1986.) | Constitutional amendment | |
![]() | 1960 | 1965 | Military dictatorship (De facto one-party state) | 1965 Congolese coup d'état | |
![]() | 1970 | 1979 | Parliamentary system | Creation of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia | Political rights were restricted to the white minority |
![]() | 1917 | 1991 | Multi-party semi-presidential republic | Referendum | |
![]() | 1922 | 1990 | Multi-party semi-presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman until 1989 One-party system under the Communist Party of the Soviet Union |
![]() | 1873 | 1874 | Constitutional monarchy | Restoration of the monarchy | |
![]() | 1931 | 1939 | One-party state (which declared itself a constitutional monarchy in 1947) | Coup d'état | |
![]() | 1975 | 1987 | Assembly-independent republic | New constitution adopted | |
![]() | 1972 | 1978 | Semi-presidential system | New constitution adopted | |
![]() | 1930 | 1958 | State dissolved | Creation of the United Arab Republic | Merged into the United Arab Republic, which operated as a One-party presidential system |
![]() | 1961 | 1963 | One-party presidential system | 1963 Syrian coup d'état | |
![]() | 1852 | 1902 | Colony of the British Empire | Second Boer War | |
![]() | 1929 | 1990 | Presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One-party system under the Communist Party of Tajikistan |
![]() | 1923 | 2018 | Presidential system | Referendum | |
![]() | 1925 | 1990 | Presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One-party system under the Communist Party of Turkmenistan |
![]() | 1963 | 1966 | One-party state | Suspension of the constitution | |
![]() | 1917 | 1918 | Client state | 1918 Ukrainian coup d'état | |
1918 | 1919 | One-party parliamentary republic | Creation of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic | ||
1921 | State dissolved | Treaty of Riga | |||
![]() | 1919 | 1991 | Multi-party semi-presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman until 1990 One-party system under the Communist Party of Ukraine |
![]() | 1924 | 1990 | Presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One-party system under the Communist Party of Uzbekistan |
![]() | 1945 | 1953 | Parliamentary republic with an executive presidency | Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One-party system under the Communist Party of Yugoslavia | |
![]() | 1979 | 1979 | Dependent territory | Reversion to Southern Rhodesia | |
![]() | 1980 | 1987 | Presidential system | Constitutional amendment | |
Parliamentary republics with an executive presidency | |||||
Country | Became a parliamentary republic with an executive presidency | Status changed | Changed to | Reason for change | Notes |
![]() | 1970 | 1982 | Presidential system | Constitutional amendment | The president was elected semi-directly by a constituency-based double simultaneous vote, with vacancies filled by Parliament; a motion of no confidence automatically entailed snap parliamentary elections. Presidential elections were made fully direct and separate from parliamentary elections in 1982. |
![]() | 1964 | 2008 | Full parliamentary system | Coalition and power-sharing | Originally, the president was elected semi-directly by a constituency-based double simultaneous vote, with vacancies filled by Parliament; a motion of no confidence automatically entailed either the resignation of the president or snap parliamentary elections. Presidential elections were made fully direct in 1969, including after a vacancy, but their schedule remained linked to the parliamentary elections. A separate Prime Minister existed between 2008 and 2013. |
![]() | 1953 | 1963 | Assembly-independent republic | New constitution | One-party system under the League of Communists of Yugoslavia |
Assembly-independent systems | |||||
Country | Became an assembly- independent republic | Status changed | Changed to | Reason for change | Notes |
![]() | 1960 | 1966 | Military dictatorship (Which led to the fully parliamentary Second Republic of Ghana) | Coup d'état | |
![]() | 1985 | 1997 | Full parliamentary republic | Constitutional amendment | |
2003 | 2010 | Constitutional amendment | |||
![]() | 1992 | 2000 | Semi-presidential republic | Constitutional amendment | |
![]() | 1962 | 1964 | State dissolved | Creation of the United Republic of Tanzania | Merged into the United Republic of Tanzania, which operated as a One-party presidential system |
![]() | 1963 | 1980 | Directorial republic | and the death of Josip Broz Tito | One-party system under the League of Communists of Yugoslavia The change to a directorial system was legislated in 1973, but only took effect in 1980. |
Directorial systems | |||||
![]() | 1980 | 1992 | — | Breakup of Yugoslavia | One-party system under the League of Communists of Yugoslavia |
See also
- List of countries by system of government
- Constitutional monarchy
- Parliamentary system
- Republic
- Republicanism
- Semi-presidential system
- Semi-parliamentary system
Notes
- Changed after the 2015 referendum.
- Was, previously, a parliamentary republic between 1972 and 1975.
- The Constitution of the Republic of China went into effect on 25 December 1947 as the Chinese Civil War was underway. On 1 October 1949, the Kuomintang-led Republic of China (ROC) was succeeded in Mainland China by the People's Republic of China, a single-party state governed by the Chinese Communist Party. The ROC government was then confined to the island of Taiwan from 7 December. The provisions establishing a parliamentary republic remain in the Constitution but are suspended by the Additional Articles, which established direct presidential elections since 1996.
- Under the Additional Articles, the Control Yuan ceased to be a parliamentary chamber in 1993 and the National Assembly was dissolved in 2005 leaving the Legislative Yuan as the unicameral chamber. Functions of the National Assembly were transferred to the Legislative Yuan and nationwide referendums. According to Judicial Yuan Interpretation no. 76, Shall the National Assembly, the Legislative Yuan and the Control Yuan be considered en masse as equivalent to the parliaments of democratic nations? issued on May 3, 1957: The Constitution was enacted according to the exhortation of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. In addition to the National Assembly, five Yuans have been established, the concept of which is not really analogous to the separation of powers system. The National Assembly representing all the nationals exercises the political power, the Legislative Yuan is the highest legislative institution of the nation and the Control Yuan is the highest monitoring institution of the nation. All of them are composed of representatives or members that are directly or indirectly elected by the people. Their functions and powers are similar to those important powers exercised by the parliaments of democratic nations. Although some of their approaches to the exercise of power, such as a regular annual assembly, quorum and resolution by the majority are not the same as those of parliaments of democratic nations, the National Assembly, the Legislative Yuan and the Control Yuan, from the perspective of the nature of their statuses and functions in the Constitution, should be considered as equivalent to the parliaments of democratic nations.
- Estonia was previously a parliamentary republic between 1918 and 1934 when the system was changed to a presidential system which was thereafter overthrown by a coup d'état. In 1938, Estonia finally adopted a presidential system and in June 1940 was illegally occupied by the Soviet Union. Became a parliamentary republic again in 1990 with the implementation of an interim period to restore full independence, which was achieved by 1991.
- Formerly a semi-presidential republic, it is now a parliamentary republic according to David Arter, First Chair of Politics at Aberdeen University. In his "Scandinavian Politics Today" (Manchester University Press, revised 2008 ISBN 9780719078538), he quotes Nousiainen, Jaakko (June 2001). "From semi-presidentialism to parliamentary government: political and constitutional developments in Finland". Scandinavian Political Studies. 24 (2): 95–109. doi:10.1111/1467-9477.00048. as follows: "There are hardly any grounds for the epithet 'semi-presidential'." Arter's own conclusions are only slightly more nuanced: "The adoption of a new constitution on 1 March 2000 meant that Finland was no longer a case of semi-presidential government other than in the minimalist sense of a situation where a popularly elected fixed-term president exists alongside a prime minister and cabinet who are responsible to parliament (Elgie 2004: 317)". According to the Finnish Constitution, the president has no possibility to rule the government without the ministerial approval, and does not have the power to dissolve the parliament under his or her own desire. Finland is actually represented by its prime minister, and not by its president, in the Council of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union. The 2012 constitutional amendments reduced the powers of the president even further.
- "Salome Zurabishvili Wins Georgia Presidential Runoff". The New York Times. The Associated Press. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
- The Federal Convention is made up of all the members of the Bundestag. The other half is distributed to the 16 Länder, that then each elect Members to elect the President of Germany. Often German celebrities are chosen by the state parliaments.
- The Bundesrat is sometimes referred to as an upper chamber of the German legislature. This is technically incorrect, since the German Constitution defines the Bundestag and Bundesrat as two separate legislative institutions. It describes the Bundesrat as the constitutional organ which is representing the 16 Länder (States) of Germany. Hence, the federal legislature of Germany consists of two unicameral legislative institutions, not one bicameral parliament. However the Federal Constitutional Court itself referred to the Bundesrat in the English translation of this decision.
- In the case of the former West German states, including former West Berlin, the previous one-party state is Nazi Germany, but in the case of the New Länder and former East Berlin it is East Germany. German reunification took place on 3 October 1990, when the five re-established states of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) joined the Federal Republic of Germany, and Berlin was united into a single city-state. Therefore, this date applies to today's Federal Republic of Germany as a whole, although the area of former East Germany was no part of that parliamentary republic until 1990.
- Officially bicameral, upper house never entered into functions, to present day.
- The head of state was ambiguous from 1936 until the Republic of Ireland Act came into force on 18 April 1949. A minority of Irish republicans assert that the Irish Republic proclaimed in 1919 is still extant.
- Latvia was previously a parliamentary republic between 1921 and 1934 when the then prime minister Kārlis Ulmanis took power in a coup d'état. In June 1940 Latvia was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union.
- Under a transitional government between 2006 and 2015; this Transitional Government was responsible to an elected Constituent Assembly, which resolved to establish a republic in 2008.
- Had a transitional government between 1991 and 2012.
- Kavelashvili's election is contested by outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili, all large opposition parties, as well as numerous watchdogs and constitutional experts, who question the legitimacy of the 2024 Georgian parliamentary election that determined the composition of the electoral college for the presidential election.
References
- Twomey, Anne. "Australian politics explainer: Gough Whitlam's dismissal as prime minister". The Conversation. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- "The President's Role". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- Arend Lijphart, ed. (1992). Parliamentary versus presidential government. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-878044-1.
- "Art 54 GG - Einzelnorm". www.gesetze-im-internet.de. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
- "Zusammensetzung des Bundesrates". Bundesrat (in German). Retrieved 2023-09-20.
- "Malta: Heads of State: 1964-1974". Archontology.org. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- "British Monarch's Titles: 1867-2018". Archontology.org. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- "Mauritius: Heads of State: 1968-1992". Archontology.org. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- Paxton, John (1984). The Statesman's Year-Book 1984-85. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-333-34731-7. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- Constitution of Nepal Archived December 23, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- Kiran Khalid (9 April 2010). "Pakistan lawmakers approve weakening of presidential powers". CNN. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- "'18th Amendment to restore Constitution'". Nation.com.pk. 11 April 2010. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- "Trinidad and Tobago: Heads of State: 1962-1976". Archontology.org. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- "Parliament of Kiribati - Constitution". 2009-04-16. Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- Every list of candidates for Parliament must also have a candidate for President, and the having the most votes automatically has its candidate elected President
- "South Africa: Heads of State: 1910-1961". Archontology.org. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- Carlin, John (31 May 1994). "South Africa returns to the Commonwealth fold". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- "Secession Talked by Some Anti-Republicans". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. 11 October 1960. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- President must have 2/3rd majority vote in parliament. Voting happens twice if there is no majority vote at the first vote for a candidate. If no 2/3rd majority vote after second vote, then parliament moves this to the VVV (Vereenigde Volksvergadering, where all the members of Parliament and district and resort counsel members will vote for the president. Majority vote decides who becomes president.
- "Executive". www.gov.fm. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
- Esengeldiev, Almaz. "Kyrgyzstan's 2016 Constitutional Referendum". Freedom House. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
A parliamentary republic is a republic that operates under a parliamentary system of government where the executive branch the government derives its legitimacy from and is accountable to the legislature the parliament There are a number of variations of parliamentary republics Most have a clear differentiation between the head of government and the head of state with the head of government holding real power and the head of state being a ceremonial position similar to constitutional monarchies In some countries the head of state has reserve powers to use at their discretion as a non partisan referee of the political process Some have combined the roles of head of state and head of government much like presidential systems but with a dependency upon parliamentary confidence In general parliamentary republics grant the highest sovereign powers to the parliament World s states coloured by systems of government Parliamentary systems Head of government is elected or nominated by and accountable to the legislature Constitutional monarchy with a ceremonial monarch Parliamentary republic with a ceremonial president Parliamentary republic with an executive president Presidential system Head of government president is popularly elected and independent of the legislature Presidential republic Hybrid systems Semi presidential republic Executive president is independent of the legislature head of government is appointed by the president and is accountable to the legislature Assembly independent republic Head of government president or directory is elected by the legislature but is not accountable to it Other systems Theocratic republic Supreme Leader holds significant executive and legislative power Semi constitutional monarchy Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power Absolute monarchy Monarch has unlimited power One party state Power is constitutionally linked to a single political party Military junta Committee of military leaders controls the government constitutional provisions are suspended Provisional government No constitutionally defined basis to current regime Dependent territories or places without governments Note this chart represents the de jure systems of government not the de facto degree of democracy vtePowersThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Parliamentary republic news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2019 Learn how and when to remove this message In contrast to republics operating under either the presidential system or the semi presidential system the head of state usually does not have executive powers as an executive president would some may have reserve powers or a bit more influence beyond that because many of those powers have been granted to a head of government usually called a prime minister clarification needed However in a parliamentary republic with a head of state whose tenure is dependent on parliament the head of government and head of state can form one office as in Botswana the Marshall Islands Nauru and South Africa but the president is still selected in much the same way as the prime minister is in most Westminster systems This usually means that they are the leader of the largest party or coalition of parties in parliament In some cases the president can legally have executive powers granted to them to undertake the day to day running of government as in Iceland but by convention they either do not use these powers or they use them only to give effect to the advice of the parliament or head of government Some parliamentary republics could therefore be seen as following the semi presidential system but operating under a parliamentary system Historical developmentTypically parliamentary republics are states that were previously constitutional monarchies with a parliamentary system Following the defeat of Napoleon III in the Franco Prussian War France once again became a republic the French Third Republic in 1870 The President of the Third Republic had significantly less executive powers than those of the previous two republics had The Third Republic lasted until the invasion of France by Nazi Germany in 1940 Following the end of the war the French Fourth Republic was constituted along similar lines in 1946 The Fourth Republic saw an era of great economic growth in France and the rebuilding of the nation s social institutions and industry after the war and played an important part in the development of the process of European integration which changed the continent permanently Some attempts were made to strengthen the executive branch of government to prevent the unstable situation that had existed before the war but the instability remained and the Fourth Republic saw frequent changes in government there were 20 governments in ten years Additionally the government proved unable to make effective decisions regarding decolonization As a result the Fourth Republic collapsed and Charles de Gaulle was given power to rule by decree subsequently legitimized by approval of a new constitution in a referendum on 28 September 1958 that led to the establishment of the French Fifth Republic in 1959 Chile became the first parliamentary republic in South America following a civil war in 1891 However following a coup in 1925 this system was replaced by a presidential one original research Commonwealth of Nations Since the London Declaration of 29 April 1949 just weeks after Ireland declared itself a republic and excluded itself from the Commonwealth republics have been admitted as members of the Commonwealth of Nations In the case of many republics in the Commonwealth of Nations it was common for the Sovereign formerly represented by a Governor General to be replaced by a non executive head of state This was the case in South Africa which ceased to be a member of the Commonwealth immediately upon becoming a republic and later switched to having an executive presidency Malta Trinidad and Tobago India Vanuatu and since 30 November 2021 Barbados In many of these examples the last Governor General became the first president Such was the case with Sri Lanka and Pakistan Other states became parliamentary republics upon gaining independence List of modern parliamentary republics and related systemsFull parliamentary republicsCountry territory Head of state Head of state elected by Cameral structure Parliamentary republic adopted Previous government form Notes Albania Bajram Begaj Parliament by three fifths majority Unicameral 1991 One party state Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan Parliament by absolute majority Unicameral 2018 Semi presidential republic Austria Alexander Van der Bellen Direct election by two round system Bicameral 1945 One party state as part of Nazi Germany see Anschluss Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin Parliament Unicameral 1991 Presidential republic Barbados Sandra Mason Parliament by two thirds majority if there is no joint nomination Bicameral 2021 Constitutional monarchy Commonwealth realm Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Becirovic Zeljka Cvijanovic Zeljko Komsic Direct election of collective head of state by first past the post vote Bicameral 1991 One party state part of Yugoslavia Bulgaria Rumen Radev Direct election by two round system Unicameral 1991 One party state Republic of China Taiwan Lai Ching te Direct election by first past the post Nominally by the National Assembly Unicameral Nominally Tricameral 1946 Only nominally a parliamentary republic since 1996 One party military dictatorship Mainland China Constitutional monarchy Taiwan as part of the Japanese Empire Nominally the Constitution has been partially superseded by additional articles that provide for a semi presidential republic with direct presidential elections and a unicameral legislature These additional articles have a sunset clause that will terminate them in the event of a hypothetical resumption of ROC rule in mainland China Croatia Zoran Milanovic Direct election by two round system Unicameral 2000 Semi presidential republic Czech Republic Petr Pavel Direct election by two round system since 2013 previously parliament by majority Bicameral 1993 Parliamentary republic part of Czechoslovakia Dominica Sylvanie Burton Parliament by majority Unicameral 1978 Associated state of the United Kingdom Estonia Alar Karis Parliament by two thirds majority Unicameral 1991 Presidential republic thereafter occupied by a one party state Ethiopia Taye Atske Selassie Parliament by two thirds majority Bicameral 1991 One party state Fiji Naiqama Lalabalavu Parliament by majority Unicameral 2014 Military dictatorship Finland Alexander Stubb Direct election by two round system Unicameral 2000 Semi presidential republic Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili disputed Parliament and regional delegates by absolute majority since 2024 previously direct election by two round system Unicameral 2018 Semi presidential republic Germany Frank Walter Steinmeier Federal Convention Bundestag and state delegates by absolute majority Two unicameral institutions 1949 One party state Nazi Germany Greece Katerina Sakellaropoulou Parliament by majority Unicameral 1975 Military dictatorship constitutional monarchy Hungary Tamas Sulyok Parliament by majority Unicameral 1990 One party state Hungarian People s Republic Iceland Halla Tomasdottir Direct election by first past the post vote Unicameral 1944 Constitutional monarchy in a personal union with Denmark India Droupadi Murmu Parliament and state legislature by instant runoff vote Bicameral 1950 Constitutional monarchy British Dominion Iraq Abdul Latif Rashid Parliament by two thirds majority Unicameral 2005 One party state Ireland Michael D Higgins Direct election by instant runoff vote Bicameral 1949 To 1936 Constitutional monarchy British Dominion 1936 1949 ambiguous Israel Isaac Herzog Parliament by majority Unicameral 2001 Semi parliamentary republic Italy Sergio Mattarella Parliament and region delegates by two thirds majority by absolute majority starting from the fourth ballot if no candidate achieves the aforementioned majority in the first three ballots Bicameral 1946 Constitutional monarchy Prime Minister is dependent on the confidence of both of the houses of Parliament Kosovo Vjosa Osmani Parliament by two thirds majority by a simple majority at the third ballot if no candidate achieves the aforementioned majority in the first two ballots Unicameral 2008 UN administered Kosovo formally part of Serbia Latvia Edgars Rinkevics Parliament Unicameral 1991 Presidential republic thereafter occupied by a one party state Lebanon Joseph Aoun Parliament Unicameral 1941 Protectorate French mandate of Lebanon Malta George Vella Parliament by two thirds majority Unicameral 1974 Constitutional monarchy Commonwealth realm Mauritius Dharam Gokhool Parliament by majority Unicameral 1992 Constitutional monarchy Commonwealth realm Moldova Maia Sandu Direct election by two round system since 2016 previously by parliament by three fifths majority Unicameral 2001 Semi presidential republic Montenegro Jakov Milatovic Direct election by two round system Unicameral 1992 One party state Part of Yugoslavia and after Serbia and Montenegro Nepal Ram Chandra Poudel Parliament and state legislators Bicameral 2008 Constitutional monarchy North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska Davkova Direct election by two round system Unicameral 1991 One party state part of Yugoslavia Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari Parliament and state legislators by instant runoff vote Bicameral 2010 Assembly independent republic Poland Andrzej Duda Direct election Bicameral 1989 One party state Samoa Tuimalealiifano Va aletoa Sualauvi II Parliament Unicameral 1960 Trust Territory of New Zealand Serbia Aleksandar Vucic Direct election by two round system Unicameral 1991 One party state part of Yugoslavia and later Serbia and Montenegro Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam Direct election since 1993 Unicameral 1965 State of Malaysia Slovakia Peter Pellegrini Direct election by two round system since 1999 previously by parliament Unicameral 1993 Parliamentary Republic part of Czechoslovakia Slovenia Natasa Pirc Musar Direct election by two round system Bicameral 1991 One party state part of Yugoslavia Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Parliament Bicameral 2012 One party state Trinidad and Tobago Christine Kangaloo Parliament Bicameral 1976 Constitutional monarchy Commonwealth realm Togo Faure Gnassingbe Parliament Unicameral 2024 Presidential republic Vanuatu Nikenike Vurobaravu Parliament and regional council presidents by majority Unicameral 1980 British French condominium New Hebrides Parliamentary republics with an executive presidencyCountry Head of state Head of state elected by Cameral structure Parliamentary republic with an executive presidency adopted Previous government form Notes Botswana Duma Boko Parliament by majority Unicameral 1966 British protectorate Bechuanaland Protectorate Kiribati Taneti Maamau Direct election by first past the post vote Unicameral 1979 Protectorate Following a general election by which citizens elect the members of the House of Assembly members select from their midst not less than 3 nor more than 4 candidates for the presidency No other person may stand as candidate The citizens of Kiribati then elect the president from among the proposed candidates with first past the post voting Guyana Irfaan Ali Semi direct election by first past the post vote vacancies are filled by Parliament by majority Unicameral 1980 Full parliamentary republic Marshall Islands Hilda Heine Parliament Bicameral 1979 UN Trust Territory part of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Nauru David Adeang Parliament Unicameral 1968 UN Trusteeship between Australia New Zealand and the United Kingdom South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa Parliament by majority Bicameral 1961 Constitutional monarchy Commonwealth realm Was a full parliamentary republic from 1961 1984 adopted an executive presidency in 1984 Suriname Chan Santokhi Parliament vacancies are filled by Parliament by majority Unicameral 1987 Full parliamentary republic Was a full parliamentary republic from 1975 1980 adopted an executive presidency in 1987 after the military coup period from 1980 1987 when the president was given executive powers and the prime minister title became vice president Assembly independent systemsCountry Head of state Head of state elected by Cameral structure Assembly independent republic adopted Previous government form Notes Federated States of Micronesia Wesley Simina Parliament by majority Unicameral 1986 UN Trust Territory Part of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands The president is assisted by the vice president both of whom are elected by the FSM Congress from among the at large members to serve for four year terms San Marino Francesca Civerchia Dalibor Riccardi Parliament Unicameral 1291 Theocracy part of the Papal States Two collective heads of state and heads of government the Captains RegentDirectorial systemsCountry Head of state Head of state elected by Cameral structure Parliamentary republic adopted Previous government form Notes Switzerland Guy Parmelin Ignazio Cassis Albert Rosti Elisabeth Baume Schneider Beat Jans Karin Keller Sutter Viola Amherd Parliament by exhaustive ballot at a joint sitting of both houses Bicameral 1848 Confederation of states Also has citizen initiated referendumsList of former parliamentary republics and related systemsCountry Became a parliamentary republic Status changed Changed to Reason for change NotesFull parliamentary republicsSSR Abkhazia 1921 1931 One party parliamentary republic Creation of the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One party system under the Communist Party of Abkhazia Abkhaz ASSR 1931 1991 Full parliamentary republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman until 1990 One party system under the Communist Party of Abkhazia Abkhazia 1991 1994 Semi presidential republic New constitution adopted First Republic of Armenia 1918 1920 One party parliamentary republic Creation of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic Armenian SSR 1920 1991 Multi party semi presidential republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman until 1990 One party system under the Communist Party of ArmeniaFirst Austrian Republic 1920 1929 Semi presidential system Constitutional amendment Azerbaijan Democratic Republic 1918 1920 One party parliamentary republic Creation of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic Azerbaijan SSR 1920 1990 Presidential republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One party system under the Communist Party of Azerbaijan Belarusian Democratic Republic 1918 1920 One party parliamentary republic Creation of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic Byelorussian SSR 1920 1990 Full parliamentary republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One party system under the Communist Party of Byelorussia Belarus 1990 1994 Presidential republic New constitution adopted Brazil 1961 1963 Presidential system ReferendumBurma present day Myanmar 1948 1962 Military dictatorship 1962 Burmese coup d etatChile 1891 1924 Military junta 1924 Chilean coup d etat1925 1925 Presidential system New constitutionRepublic of China 1947 1972 de facto Presidential system Constitution suspended The provisions establishing a parliamentary republic remain in the Constitution which is generally in effect but are suspended by the Additional Articles which have a sunset clause that will terminate them in the event of a hypothetical resumption of ROC rule in mainland China 1991 de jure nominally remains parliamentary Semi presidential system Additional articles of the Constitution adoptedFirst Czechoslovak Republic 1920 1939 One party state Munich agreementThird Czechoslovak Republic 1945 1948 One party parliamentary republic Coup d etatFourth Czechoslovak Republic 1948 1989 Multi party parliamentary republic Velvet Revolution One party system under the Communist Party of CzechoslovakiaFifth Czechoslovak Republic 1989 1992 State dissolved Velvet DivorceState of East Indonesia 1946 1950 State dissolved Merged to the Republic of IndonesiaFirst Republic of Estonia 1920 1934 One party parliamentary republic 1934 Estonian coup d etat In June 1940 Estonia was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union 1934 1938 One party presidential republic New constitution adoptedFrench Third Republic 1870 1940 Puppet state World War II German occupationFrench Fourth Republic 1946 1958 Semi presidential system New constitution adopted Democratic Republic of Georgia 1918 1921 One party parliamentary republic Creation of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia Georgian SSR 1921 1991 Multi party semi presidential republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman until 1990 One party system under the Communist Party of Georgia Guyana 1970 1980 Assembly independent republic New constitution adoptedHungary 1946 1949 One party state Creation of the People s Republic of Hungary Indonesia 1945 1959 Presidential system Presidential constitution reinstated Israel 1948 1996 Semi parliamentary system Constitutional amendment Kenya 2008 2013 Presidential system New constitution and elections A separate Prime Minister existed between 2008 and 2013 The switch to a fully presidential system was legislated in 2010 but only took effect in 2013 Second Republic of Korea 1960 1961 Military junta 16 May coup Kazakh SSR 1936 1990 Presidential republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One party system under the Communist Party of Kazakhstan Kirghiz SSR 1936 1990 Presidential republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One party system under the Communist Party of Kirghizia Kyrgyzstan 2010 2021 Presidential republic Referendum The 2010 Constitution of Kyrgyzstan introduced a parliamentary system to the country while remaining a de facto semi presidential republic with the President retaining many forms of executive powers such as appointing a Prime Minister as the head of government The decision was subjected to a parliamentary vote of confidence First Republic of Latvia 1922 1934 One party parliamentary republic 1934 Latvian coup d etat In June 1940 Latvia was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union 1934 1940 State dissolved World War II Soviet occupationFirst Republic of Lithuania 1920 1926 One party state 1926 Lithuanian coup d etat In June 1940 Lithuania was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union Lithuania 1990 1992 Multi party semi presidential republic New constitution adopted In February 1993 Lithuania holds its first presidential election since the state re established Moldavian SSR present day Moldova 1940 1990 Multi party semi presidential republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One party system under the Communist Party of Moldavia Nigeria 1963 1966 Military dictatorship which led in 1979 to the democratic presidential Second Nigerian Republic Coup d etat Pakistan 1956 1958 Military dictatorship 1958 Pakistani coup d etat1973 1978 1977 Pakistani coup d etat1997 1999 1999 Pakistani coup d etat2002 2003 Assembly independent republic Constitutional amendmentSecond Polish Republic 1919 1935 Presidential system New constitution adoptedFirst Portuguese Republic 1911 1926 Military dictatorship which led in 1933 to the Estado Novo one party presidential republic 28 May coupFirst Philippine Republic Malolos Republic 1899 1901 Military dictatorship De facto United States Colony Capture of Emilio Aguinaldo to the American forcesFourth Philippine Republic 1973 1981 Semi presidential system de facto Military dictatorship under Martial Law between 1972 and 1986 Constitutional amendmentRepublic of the Congo 1960 1965 Military dictatorship De facto one party state 1965 Congolese coup d etat Rhodesia 1970 1979 Parliamentary system Creation of Zimbabwe Rhodesia Political rights were restricted to the white minority Russian SFSR 1917 1991 Multi party semi presidential republic Referendum Soviet Union 1922 1990 Multi party semi presidential republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman until 1989 One party system under the Communist Party of the Soviet UnionFirst Spanish Republic 1873 1874 Constitutional monarchy Restoration of the monarchySecond Spanish Republic 1931 1939 One party state which declared itself a constitutional monarchy in 1947 Coup d etat Suriname 1975 1987 Assembly independent republic New constitution adopted Sri Lanka 1972 1978 Semi presidential system New constitution adoptedSyrian Republic 1930 1958 State dissolved Creation of the United Arab Republic Merged into the United Arab Republic which operated as a One party presidential systemSyrian Arab Republic 1961 1963 One party presidential system 1963 Syrian coup d etatTransvaal Republic 1852 1902 Colony of the British Empire Second Boer War Tajik SSR 1929 1990 Presidential republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One party system under the Communist Party of Tajikistan Turkey 1923 2018 Presidential system Referendum Turkmen SSR 1925 1990 Presidential republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One party system under the Communist Party of Turkmenistan Uganda 1963 1966 One party state Suspension of the constitution Ukrainian People s Republic 1917 1918 Client state 1918 Ukrainian coup d etat1918 1919 One party parliamentary republic Creation of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic1921 State dissolved Treaty of Riga Ukrainian SSR 1919 1991 Multi party semi presidential republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman until 1990 One party system under the Communist Party of Ukraine Uzbek SSR 1924 1990 Presidential republic Constitutional amendment Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One party system under the Communist Party of Uzbekistan Yugoslavia 1945 1953 Parliamentary republic with an executive presidency Had a collective head of state with a distinct chairman One party system under the Communist Party of Yugoslavia Zimbabwe Rhodesia 1979 1979 Dependent territory Reversion to Southern Rhodesia Zimbabwe 1980 1987 Presidential system Constitutional amendmentParliamentary republics with an executive presidencyCountry Became a parliamentary republic with an executive presidency Status changed Changed to Reason for change Notes Gambia 1970 1982 Presidential system Constitutional amendment The president was elected semi directly by a constituency based double simultaneous vote with vacancies filled by Parliament a motion of no confidence automatically entailed snap parliamentary elections Presidential elections were made fully direct and separate from parliamentary elections in 1982 Kenya 1964 2008 Full parliamentary system Coalition and power sharing Originally the president was elected semi directly by a constituency based double simultaneous vote with vacancies filled by Parliament a motion of no confidence automatically entailed either the resignation of the president or snap parliamentary elections Presidential elections were made fully direct in 1969 including after a vacancy but their schedule remained linked to the parliamentary elections A separate Prime Minister existed between 2008 and 2013 Yugoslavia 1953 1963 Assembly independent republic New constitution One party system under the League of Communists of YugoslaviaAssembly independent systemsCountry Became an assembly independent republic Status changed Changed to Reason for change NotesFirst Republic of Ghana 1960 1966 Military dictatorship Which led to the fully parliamentary Second Republic of Ghana Coup d etat Pakistan 1985 1997 Full parliamentary republic Constitutional amendment2003 2010 Constitutional amendment Serbia and Montenegro 1992 2000 Semi presidential republic Constitutional amendment Tanganyika 1962 1964 State dissolved Creation of the United Republic of Tanzania Merged into the United Republic of Tanzania which operated as a One party presidential system Yugoslavia 1963 1980 Directorial republic and the death of Josip Broz Tito One party system under the League of Communists of Yugoslavia The change to a directorial system was legislated in 1973 but only took effect in 1980 Directorial systems Yugoslavia 1980 1992 Breakup of Yugoslavia One party system under the League of Communists of YugoslaviaSee alsoList of countries by system of government Constitutional monarchy Parliamentary system Republic Republicanism Semi presidential system Semi parliamentary systemNotesChanged after the 2015 referendum Was previously a parliamentary republic between 1972 and 1975 The Constitution of the Republic of China went into effect on 25 December 1947 as the Chinese Civil War was underway On 1 October 1949 the Kuomintang led Republic of China ROC was succeeded in Mainland China by the People s Republic of China a single party state governed by the Chinese Communist Party The ROC government was then confined to the island of Taiwan from 7 December The provisions establishing a parliamentary republic remain in the Constitution but are suspended by the Additional Articles which established direct presidential elections since 1996 Under the Additional Articles the Control Yuan ceased to be a parliamentary chamber in 1993 and the National Assembly was dissolved in 2005 leaving the Legislative Yuan as the unicameral chamber Functions of the National Assembly were transferred to the Legislative Yuan and nationwide referendums According to Judicial Yuan Interpretation no 76 Shall the National Assembly the Legislative Yuan and the Control Yuan be considered en masse as equivalent to the parliaments of democratic nations issued on May 3 1957 The Constitution was enacted according to the exhortation of Dr Sun Yat Sen In addition to the National Assembly five Yuans have been established the concept of which is not really analogous to the separation of powers system The National Assembly representing all the nationals exercises the political power the Legislative Yuan is the highest legislative institution of the nation and the Control Yuan is the highest monitoring institution of the nation All of them are composed of representatives or members that are directly or indirectly elected by the people Their functions and powers are similar to those important powers exercised by the parliaments of democratic nations Although some of their approaches to the exercise of power such as a regular annual assembly quorum and resolution by the majority are not the same as those of parliaments of democratic nations the National Assembly the Legislative Yuan and the Control Yuan from the perspective of the nature of their statuses and functions in the Constitution should be considered as equivalent to the parliaments of democratic nations Estonia was previously a parliamentary republic between 1918 and 1934 when the system was changed to a presidential system which was thereafter overthrown by a coup d etat In 1938 Estonia finally adopted a presidential system and in June 1940 was illegally occupied by the Soviet Union Became a parliamentary republic again in 1990 with the implementation of an interim period to restore full independence which was achieved by 1991 Formerly a semi presidential republic it is now a parliamentary republic according to David Arter First Chair of Politics at Aberdeen University In his Scandinavian Politics Today Manchester University Press revised 2008 ISBN 9780719078538 he quotes Nousiainen Jaakko June 2001 From semi presidentialism to parliamentary government political and constitutional developments in Finland Scandinavian Political Studies 24 2 95 109 doi 10 1111 1467 9477 00048 as follows There are hardly any grounds for the epithet semi presidential Arter s own conclusions are only slightly more nuanced The adoption of a new constitution on 1 March 2000 meant that Finland was no longer a case of semi presidential government other than in the minimalist sense of a situation where a popularly elected fixed term president exists alongside a prime minister and cabinet who are responsible to parliament Elgie 2004 317 According to the Finnish Constitution the president has no possibility to rule the government without the ministerial approval and does not have the power to dissolve the parliament under his or her own desire Finland is actually represented by its prime minister and not by its president in the Council of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union The 2012 constitutional amendments reduced the powers of the president even further Salome Zurabishvili Wins Georgia Presidential Runoff The New York Times The Associated Press 29 November 2018 Retrieved 3 January 2019 The Federal Convention is made up of all the members of the Bundestag The other half is distributed to the 16 Lander that then each elect Members to elect the President of Germany Often German celebrities are chosen by the state parliaments The Bundesrat is sometimes referred to as an upper chamber of the German legislature This is technically incorrect since the German Constitution defines the Bundestag and Bundesrat as two separate legislative institutions It describes the Bundesrat as the constitutional organ which is representing the 16 Lander States of Germany Hence the federal legislature of Germany consists of two unicameral legislative institutions not one bicameral parliament However the Federal Constitutional Court itself referred to the Bundesrat in the English translation of this decision In the case of the former West German states including former West Berlin the previous one party state is Nazi Germany but in the case of the New Lander and former East Berlin it is East Germany German reunification took place on 3 October 1990 when the five re established states of the German Democratic Republic East Germany joined the Federal Republic of Germany and Berlin was united into a single city state Therefore this date applies to today s Federal Republic of Germany as a whole although the area of former East Germany was no part of that parliamentary republic until 1990 Officially bicameral upper house never entered into functions to present day The head of state was ambiguous from 1936 until the Republic of Ireland Act came into force on 18 April 1949 A minority of Irish republicans assert that the Irish Republic proclaimed in 1919 is still extant Latvia was previously a parliamentary republic between 1921 and 1934 when the then prime minister Karlis Ulmanis took power in a coup d etat In June 1940 Latvia was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union Under a transitional government between 2006 and 2015 this Transitional Government was responsible to an elected Constituent Assembly which resolved to establish a republic in 2008 Had a transitional government between 1991 and 2012 Kavelashvili s election is contested by outgoing President Salome Zourabichvili all large opposition parties as well as numerous watchdogs and constitutional experts who question the legitimacy of the 2024 Georgian parliamentary election that determined the composition of the electoral college for the presidential election ReferencesTwomey Anne Australian politics explainer Gough Whitlam s dismissal as prime minister The Conversation Retrieved 18 October 2018 The President s Role The Times of India Retrieved 18 October 2018 Arend Lijphart ed 1992 Parliamentary versus presidential government Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 878044 1 Art 54 GG Einzelnorm www gesetze im internet de Retrieved 2023 09 20 Zusammensetzung des Bundesrates Bundesrat in German Retrieved 2023 09 20 Malta Heads of State 1964 1974 Archontology org Retrieved 18 February 2018 British Monarch s Titles 1867 2018 Archontology org Retrieved 18 February 2018 Mauritius Heads of State 1968 1992 Archontology org Retrieved 18 February 2018 Paxton John 1984 The Statesman s Year Book 1984 85 Palgrave Macmillan p 29 ISBN 978 0 333 34731 7 Retrieved 18 February 2018 Constitution of Nepal Archived December 23 2015 at the Wayback Machine Kiran Khalid 9 April 2010 Pakistan lawmakers approve weakening of presidential powers CNN Retrieved 14 April 2010 18th Amendment to restore Constitution Nation com pk 11 April 2010 Archived from the original on 14 April 2010 Retrieved 14 April 2010 Trinidad and Tobago Heads of State 1962 1976 Archontology org Retrieved 18 February 2018 Parliament of Kiribati Constitution 2009 04 16 Archived from the original on 2009 04 16 Retrieved 2023 08 25 Every list of candidates for Parliament must also have a candidate for President and the having the most votes automatically has its candidate elected President South Africa Heads of State 1910 1961 Archontology org Retrieved 18 February 2018 Carlin John 31 May 1994 South Africa returns to the Commonwealth fold The Independent Archived from the original on 2022 05 25 Retrieved 18 February 2018 Secession Talked by Some Anti Republicans Saskatoon Star Phoenix 11 October 1960 Retrieved 18 February 2018 President must have 2 3rd majority vote in parliament Voting happens twice if there is no majority vote at the first vote for a candidate If no 2 3rd majority vote after second vote then parliament moves this to the VVV Vereenigde Volksvergadering where all the members of Parliament and district and resort counsel members will vote for the president Majority vote decides who becomes president Executive www gov fm 8 March 2021 Retrieved 2023 08 25 Esengeldiev Almaz Kyrgyzstan s 2016 Constitutional Referendum Freedom House Retrieved 2023 10 16